PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Austin Rivers (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matthew Murt (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Murt has chosen I like to move it as his entrance music. Matthew Murt struggled to make weight for this fight. He only made it down to 136.0lbs at the first attempt and had to take the additional two hours to make the official bout weight. Let's see how much it's taken out of him. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Rivers
vs
Murt

170 cm
28
145 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

173 cm
21
148 lbs
0 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Austin Rivers!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Matthew Murt!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Sano, Shirou Masuda and Ren Mimura.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rivers throws out a powerful jab.
Murt wants to clinch but Rivers slips to the side
and Rivers counters with a stiff right hand.
Rivers clobbers Murt with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.

Murt shoots in and gets a takedown into Rivers's guard.
Rivers looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Murt postures up.

Rivers is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Murt content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Murt passes Rivers's left leg - he's now in half guard.

Murt is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Murt prevents Rivers from improving his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murt tries to stand and escape but Rivers is controlling the position.
Rivers is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Murt's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Murt's back!
Rivers scores with strikes from the back.
Rivers missing with strikes.

Murt defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Rivers's arms.
Murt covering up well under a barage of strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Murt trying to get back to his feet but Rivers is in full control for now.

Murt is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Rivers gets his way!
Murt holding both Rivers 's hands and preventing any damage.
Murt manages to reverse the position and now he's in Rivers's guard. Nice work there by Murt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Murt wants to pass the guard but Rivers is keeping the position.
Rivers is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

Rivers is looking for a triangle but Murt pushes his legs off easily.

Murt drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Rivers manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Murt has Rivers in his guard.
Rivers wants to control from the top but Murt keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Murt is edging up against the ropes. He's using the ropes to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Murt putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Rivers in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Murt misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Rivers.
Rivers managing to block the knees to the body from Murt.
Murt with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Murt looking to stall.
Rivers on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Matthew Murt will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Rivers darts in and clinches Murt up against the ropes.
Rivers blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Murt tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Rivers avoids it.
Rivers takes a knee to the side of the body.
Murt tries to land knees in the clinch but Rivers avoids the damage to the body.
With the fighters up against the ropes, Murt throws an elbow but misses.
Rivers avoids the elbow strike from Murt, against the ropes.
Murt misses with a knee strike.
Murt is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the ropes enables Rivers to keep the fight standing.
Murt has Rivers pressed up against the ropes and is working for takedown. Rivers manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Murt throws an elbow but it's blocked.

Rivers is trying to trip Murt. He has hold of a leg but Murt is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Rivers persists though and gets the takedown into guard.

Murt working for a triangle but Rivers defends it easily.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murt keeping full guard, as Rivers tries to pass.
Murt is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Rivers trying to control the position from guard on top but Murt is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Austin Rivers overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Murt looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Rivers won't allow Murt to sweep him here.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Austin Rivers wasn't doing enough on the ground.

Murt closes the distance and pushes Rivers back into the ropes.
Murt landing knees to the body.
Murt tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Rivers avoids it.
Murt with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Rivers on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rivers avoiding damage as Murt throws knees to the body.
Murt missing with knees to the body.
Murt tries to land knees in the clinch but Rivers avoids the damage to the body.
Murt stalling in the clinch.
Murt looking to throw knees to the head but Rivers is blocking nicely.
Rivers lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Murt goes for a takedown attempt but Rivers pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Austin Rivers has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Matthew Murt.

Murt darts in and clinches Rivers up against the ropes.
Rivers tries to break free but Murt pushes him back against the ropes.
Murt tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Rivers avoids it.
Murt trying to land knees to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Murt with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Murt tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Rivers avoids it.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Murt keeps control of Rivers as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Murt throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Rivers blocks it with crossed arms.
Murt is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Rivers blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Rivers lands a left hand.

Murt gets control of Rivers's arms and successfully pulls guard. Murt will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Murt is looking to stand up but Rivers isn't so interested in that idea.
Murt is breathing heavily.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rivers trying to control but Murt is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matthew Murt showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Rivers with a lazy takedown attempt

and Murt counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

Murt stands up and beckons Rivers to join him on the feet.
Rivers looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.

Rivers moves into range and clinches up with Murt.
Matthew Murt seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Rivers wants to stall.
Rivers tries to land knees in the clinch but Murt avoids the damage to the body.
Murt connects with a nasty looking knee right to Rivers's face.
Rivers managing to block the knees to the body from Murt.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Murt drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Murt tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Rivers smiles and moves away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murt throws a head kick that misses.
Murt looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Austin Rivers has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Matthew Murt.
Murt takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Murt tries to close the distance and clinch but Rivers swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Murt doesn't manage to clinch there - Rivers circles away.
Rivers is looking to slow Murt down with leg kicks.
Murt shoots in for a takedown but Rivers shows good takedown defense.
Murt stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Rivers.
Murt wants to clinch.

Rivers clinches up with Murt and pushes him back against the ropes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Murt throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Rivers blocks it with crossed arms.
Rivers on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Murt tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Rivers avoids it.
Murt tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Murt is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Murt throws an elbow but it misses.
Rivers managing to block the knees to the body from Murt.
Murt tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Rivers avoids it.
Murt misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Rivers.
Murt misses with an elbow strike.

Murt gets a trip takedown into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Murt throwing shots but Rivers is blocking nicely.
Rivers controlling the position well.
Matthew Murt is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Rivers looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Murt is thwarting Rivers's attempts to control the position.
Still in half guard, Murt seems content to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Murt is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Rivers closes the distance and pushes Murt back into the ropes.
Rivers is looking for a takedown up against the ropes. Murt gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Rivers is working for takedown but Murt is calmly controlling the position for now.
Austin Rivers has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rivers tries to throw a body punch but Murt avoids it by throwing Rivers back against the ropes.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Murt looking to throw knees to the head but Rivers is blocking nicely.

Murt pulls Rivers into guard.
Rivers is looking to work some ground and pound but Murt has wrist control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Matthew Murt comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Murt winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 27:30
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Matthew Murt!
After the fight, Matthew Murt was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.